Members of the IUP Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble continued their series of Zoom meetings with various guest artists by speaking with composer/arranger Alan Baylock.
Baylock is well acquainted with IUP, having served as the guest artist for the 2014 IUP Jazz Festival, returning later that year to work with a jazz band made up of IUP students, faculty, and alumni in preparation for a performance with Helwig Distinguished Artist Doc Severinsen. He returned in 2015 during a tour with the US Air Force Airmen of Note and, more recently, returned to campus in spring 2019 as director of the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band.
Baylock was born and raised in Ebensburg, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, and graduated from Bishop Carroll High School. He served 20 years as chief arranger for the US Air Force Airmen of Note in Washington, DC before accepting the position of director of the renowned One O'Clock Lab Band.
Baylock's music has been performed and/or recorded by jazz greats Maynard Ferguson, Freddie Hubbard, Michael Brecker, Phil Woods, David Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi, Bobby Shew, Kenny Werner, Paquito D'Rivera, and many more. His eclectic talents have also led him to writing music for Roy Clark, Clint Black, Wynonna, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Spyro Gyra, Ronan Tynan, and symphony orchestras across the country and abroad.
Both the IUP Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble have performed music written by Baylock over the past several years and welcomed the opportunity to speak with him. The IUP Jazz Band is led by James Flowers. Kevin Eisensmith conducts the IUP Jazz Ensemble.